A blog by author Christie Golden

Schedule change for SDCC: My Sunday signing has been moved to 1:00-2:00 instead of 3:00-4:00.

I am THRILLED to be able to finally announce that I’ve authored the script, bible, and a novella for 4A Games’ upcoming title, ARKTIKA.1! It’s a VR game set in future where efforts to halt global warming have gone terribly, terribly wrong.

I have no idea how this happened but it’s JULY 16, y’all, and I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Once time moved slowly, but that ship has sailed around the world a few times. So much has happened since my last blog, but as per usual, I appear to be so busy doing things that I don’t have time to post that I am, well, doing things.

First, for those of you have come specifically for this, here is my schedule for the upcoming SDCC!

8:00-9:00 PM
PANEL: I’ll Take Quidditch for $50, Obi-Wan: Fan Game Show
Location: Room 32AB
Description: Can you name the family seat of each Westerosi house? Identify a Star Wars™ villain from a single line of dialogue? List every Hogwarts professor by magical subject? Test your knowledge in this bookish game show, competing head-to-head with bestselling authors Christie Golden (Battlefront II: Inferno Squad), Scott Sigler (Alive), and actress/audiobook narrator Janina Gavankar (Battlefront II: Inferno Squad) in categories like “May the Force Be With You,” “Expecto Patronum,” and more, using audio clips from the Star Wars™, Game of Thrones and Harry Potter audiobooks. Star Wars™ audiobook narrator Marc Thompson will host, selecting a few lucky audience members to compete onstage as our contestants’ teammates!

Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development Department collaborates with the game teams to provide compelling experiences inside and outside the company’s iconic games. Cinematics, in-game animation, books, comics, short stories, audio dramas, and sculptures serve to create an expanded universe that brings their dynamic characters to life in new and exciting ways. They will go behind the scenes with the artists who help build these worlds to discover how they enhance the greater narrative of Blizzard’s franchises. Panelists include George Krstic (head of story), Robert Simpson (lead editor), Christie Golden (New York Times bestselling author), Dominic Qwek (senior sculptor), and Steven Chen (director of animation). Moderated by Cate Gary (senior editor).

Quickie update #1: I’m now working at Blizzard through early November! I’m in Story and Franchise Development, and I’m writing, and if I tell you anything else, I’m told that Mor’ladim will come after me. The original OP Elite version. So…that’s all you get for now.

Quickie update #2: I have a Star Wars novel coming out on July 25! Not just ANY Star Wars novel, mind you, but the prequel to Battlefront II: Inferno Squad! And that’s the title, too, by the way. Can’t say enough nice things about everyone involved in that, but a super big shoutout to Janina Gavankar, who plays Iden Versio in the game. She was apparently was missing an author in her life and has sort of adopted me. She’s even narrating the book, and she is amazing. A genuine fan, and so passionate about her work and mine too. Feel very blessed!

Preorder the book, or the audiobook, or both (!) here or wherever you prefer to purchase!

Quickie Update #3: In addition to having Inferno Squad come out on the 25th, so is the novelization of “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”. In case you’ve not heard about this yet (haha) here’s the most recent awesome clip of what is certain to be a stunning visual achievement (I’ve not seen the movie, so I’ll be watching open-mouthed along with the rest of you).

It’s really crazy…this has been one of the best years ever for me in terms of having so many books out with so many different franchises, and yet I’m too busy writing still MORE books to really post about them other than in short sentences on Twitter and FB!

I’ve also been to about ten conventions and haven’t been able to write about THEM either. I don’t do so well with this “marketing” thing, but I did want to post my schedule for Blizzcon!

I’m usually a regular here; with the exception of last year and year #1, I’ve attended them all. But people still always seem surprised to see me, or sadder yet, discover they’ve missed me. Not this year! I’m going to be on a publishing panel with several other Blizzard authors and I have a whole “Hang out with me and let’s chat” panel to, well, hang out with you all and chat! Plus several signings too. Very much looking forward to this!

What is VERY cool about this year is that Blizzard is re-releasing some previous titles under their own imprint. In my case, that’s “Lord of the Clans” and “Rise of the Horde.” For those of you wondering where they went away to for a while…that’s the answer, and you can get them hot off the presses here at Blizzcon first!

Very quickly before I get to the schedule, I have two more books coming out before the end off this year, both of them set in the Assassin’s Creed universe–“Heresy,” an original AC novel with my own characters (whom I hope you’ll like as much as I do) that centers around Joan of Arc as the main historical figure, and the novelization off the upcoming movie.

Each of these has a regular version and a special edition. Here are the Amazon links:

I’m doing a heck of a lot of conventions this year–next up is NYCC–New York City Comic Con! I’ve never been to this one, but I hear it’s an awful lot of fun. Please watch this space for updates!

Word to the wise: I’ve found at cons I update my location on Twitter a great deal, so I suggest following me @ChristieGolden if you don’t already, as there are likely to be a lot of informal opportunities to say hi and get books signed!

Here we go….

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7:

At 10:00-11: TITAN BOOKS BOOTH #2142: I’ll be doing a signing there for special editions of WARCRAFT: DUROTAN and WARCRAFT: THE OFFICIAL MOVIE NOVELIZATION. They will be hot off the presses, so make sure you get there in time to snag one! I’m told there will be a limited supply, but I’ll have a link up soon so you can order them if you miss out.

At 1:00-1:30: NYCC LIVE STAGE: I’ll be on a panel entitled “Assassin’s Creed: Expanding the Universe through Storytelling”. Here’s what the description has to say–plus I’m excited to say there will be a Big Reveal of a new project!

“At its core, Assassin’s Creed is synonymous with storytelling. Be it through books, movies, comics or a variety of other transmedia, the Assassin’s Creed universe weaves its way through exciting historical time periods, introduces vibrant characters and expands on themes originally introduced in the videogame franchise.

As Assassin’s Creed gears up for the release of the movie this year, and in preparation for a celebration of the franchise 10th Anniversary in 2017, key figures and creators involved in the shaping of the Assassin’s Creed universe will talk about their inspiration, and give a glimpse into where the franchise is headed in the future.

Join Aymar Azaizia (Assassin’s Creed Head of Content), Christie Golden (New York Times bestselling author and writer of the upcoming novel Assassin’s Creed Heresy), Matthew J. Kirby (award-winning author, writer of the new Assassin’s Creed Young Adult series, Last Descendants), and Casper Wijngaard (artist of Last Descendants Locus, an Assassin’s Creed comic series by Titan Comics).”

At 2-2:30: Autogaph Table #20: I’ll be joining Matthew J. Kirby for a signing–you can get an early copy of “Assassin’s Creed: Heresy” but get there EARLY there are only 50 copies! From the program:

“Join New York Times Bestselling author Christie Golden for a signing of her upcoming new novel Assassin’s Creed Heresy on Friday October 8th at 2pm. In “Assassin’s Creed Heresy”, Christie Golden skillfully blends the present day and the 15th century to present a taut thriller about a modern Templar and Joan of Arc. Award-winning author Matthew J. Kirby will also be there to sign free chapter samples from the upcoming book 2 of Last Descendants, an action-adventure historical fiction saga featuring a group of teens caught up in the centuries-old Assassin-Templar feud.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

At 2-4:00: DEL REY STAR WARS BOOTH # 2108, part of the larger Del Rey and Penguin Random House booth. I’ll be there for an informal signing (in other words, it’s not listed) of anything people want to put in front of me. I hear rumors there might even be some Dark Disciple posters to give away, but don’t quote me on that. 😉 Other potential times to spot me are Friday from 4-5 or 6-7.

Whew!

And if you can’t make any of these specific signings, I am likely to pop up at any of the below:

Here’s the scoop! I’m going to be doing TWO two-hour signings at the WordFire Press booth, so no risk of coming by at those times and not finding me there. If you can’t make either of them, do swing by at any other time (other than the listed panels) and chances are I’ll be hanging out. Hope to see you!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2:

12:00 -1:00 Assassin’s Creed: Finding Inspiration Through History Room 151G (Don’t forget–there will be a reveal of the cover of my new book, “Heresy”!)

Okay! Getting ready to scoot on out of here but thought I would post the latest scheudule! Remember you can often find me at the WordFire Press booth! I suggest you download the app, as things sometimes change and that’s a terrific way to stay on top of things.
See you all there!

It’s been a very busy year for me! I moved back to Virginia, where I grew up, in January–right, of course, when they were having terrible snow. Go me!

I’ve had two books come out this year already, and two more are due out before December 31. Plus, I have rereleases of FOUR other books. I think this may be some kind of record, and I couldn’t be more excited!

I hit two big milestones this year. First, I’ll be celebrating 25 years as a published fiction writer come September. And secondly, in November, I will see my 50th novel hit the shelves. When did all this happen?

That 50th book is also the third book I’ve done set in the world of Assassin’s Creed. Unlike the (very cool!) coffee table books from Insight Editions, “Blackbeard’s Journal” and the “Abstergo Employee Handbook,” this is a full-length novel, and (as it’s Assassin’s Creed) it’s a historical to boot.

“From New York Times bestselling author Christie Golden comes an original story set in the universe of Assassin’s Creed. Reliving the memories of his ancestor who fought beside Joan of Arc, high-ranking Templar Simon Hathaway slowly uncovers secrets of the past that could dangerously impact his present…and that of the entire Templar order.

An endless conflict. An old wrong. A new revelation.

Simon Hathaway, member of the Templar Inner Sanctum, brings a cool head and detached manner to his new role as Head of Abstergo Industry’s Historical Research Division.

But Simon also has an insatiable curiosity, and is fascinated by the thought of experiencing history first-hand through his ancestor–Gabriel Laxart, who fought alongside the legendary Joan of Arc.

When he enters the newly-designed Animus for its initial project, Simon finds himself unprepared for what he discovers: How deep the conflict between the Templars and the Assassins goes. What Gabriel will do for the woman he both loves and reveres.

And the most dangerous truth of all: Who is the heretic…and who is the true believer.”

Can’t say much more than that, but we’ll be revealing the cover at Salt Lake City Comiccon! Here’s my schedule, and if you can’t make it to any of the panels, my “Home Base” will be the WordFire Press booth, #1501. I’ll be signing and selling books there and look forward to meeting folks!

Thursday, September 1, 2016

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Warcraft: An Inside Look at the Game and Film :: 251A

It has been unforgivably long since I last made a blog post, so allow me to hang my head in shame. Especially as this year is shaping up to be one of the busiest on record! I just finished a major editing project and am about to finish an outline for a new book. By the end of this month I’ll (I hope) have written a new short story and be well into the aforementioned new book.

Can I talk about any of these things?

Not yet. But! I am excited to appear in Memphis, TN next weekend for my Guest of Honor appearance at MidSouthCon! I have attended before, and it’s a very friendly convention with an awful lot of fun things going on. I’ll be on a ton of panels (see below) and doing books signings throughout. Feel free to bring your own copies to get a signature and personalization, or I will be selling a variety of titles at the con if you forget/see something you like!

Here’s the skinny:

From the convention website: “MidSouthCon 34 will be held at the East Memphis Hilton on March 18 – 20th, 2016. We have a great lineup of guests this year, with all kinds of events, panels, and entertainment for your enjoyment! With over 200 hours of programming, we will probably have a discussion or workshop that will interest you. Gamers – as usual we will have gaming of all sorts – Board, Card, RPG, LARP, and more!

Convention Membership online Registration has closed. You can register at the door for $55 for the whole weekend. Day rates are avaialbe. Just ask at the door or e-mail registration@midsouthcon.org.

And here is where you can find me:

FRIDAY MARCH 18

Friday 07:00 PM Grand Ballroom C Opening Ceremony

Friday 8:00 PM From Dreary To Intense Ridgelake

Panelists will discuss how to write to grab an audience’s attention and how to keep them wanting more.

Friday 09:00 PM Grand Ballroom D and E Meet The Guests

SATURDAY MARCH 19

Saturday 10:00 AM Promenade 3 Star Trek: 50 Years & Beyond- A Look at

From the original Kirk & Spock to Picard & Janeway to the new Chris Pine / Zachary Quinto movies, our panelists will discuss the full 50 years of the groundbreaking show!